Electric switch



G. O. WILMS ELECTRIC SWITCH June 10, 1930.

2 Sheets-Sheet l June 10, 1930. G. o. wlLMs ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed lax-ch22, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Il I ad -v Patented June 10, 1930 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE GUSTAV O. WILMS, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR,BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T HARRY L. BRADLEY' AND LYNDE BRADLEY, BOTH OFMILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN ELECTRIC SWITCH p Application iiled March 22, 1929.Serial No. 349,130.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inelectric switches of the character described in my copending applicationSerial No. 320,866, and refers more f. particularly to the constructionof the movable switch member.

It is an object of this invention to improve the construction of themovable unit of switches of this character, and to provide o means whicheliminates the usual lining up of the several switch members.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a movableunit for switches of the character described in which a single spring isprovided for each set o switch members to normally yieldably maintainthe same in a predetermined position and provide the necessaryv yieldingpressure to insure a good electrical contact between the switch membersand their respective contacts.

And a further object of this invention resides in the provision of aswitch device of the character described in which the contacts andmovable switch members are mounted Within pockets to reduce thepossibility of creepage to a minimum.

And a still further object of this invention resides in the provision ofa novel construction for the movable switch unit wherein the actuatingmember is formed in two complementary sections recessed at their meetingfaces to form pockets when engaged, and in which the movable switchmembersl are mounted, being maintained in proper assembled position uponsecuring of the sections together.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it beingunderstood thatsuch changes in the precise embodiment of thehereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one complete example ofthe phys- 5 ical embodiment of my invention constructed according to thebest mode I have so far devised for the practical application of theprinciples thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a switch structure embody-ing myinvention, with parts in elevation, said view being taken through Figure2 on the plane of the line Figure 2 is a view taken through Figure 1 onthe plane of the line 2 2 and showing the movable unit in closed orcontact making position;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the movable switch unit shown detachedfrom the switch structure, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the movable switch unit with itsactuating member sections separated to illustrate their construction.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, in whichlike numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, thenumeral 5 represents a base or panel of suitable insulating materialupon which the switch structure is mounted. The switch illustrated is ofthe three-pole type and comprises a mounting member 6 formed ofinsulating material and divided into three compartments 7 by partitions8, the outer ones forming the sides of the mounting meinber. Thecompartments 7 are divided into pockets 9 and 10 by an irregularlyshaped wall 11.

Substantially L shaped members 12 are secured in the upper recesses orpockets 9 by screws 13 or the like extending through the panel 5 and themounting member 6 and threaded in the members 12 to simultaneously fixthe mountin member to the panel and secure the mem ers 12 in position.Each member 12 has its upper end provided with a terminal 14 with whicha line conductor 15 is connected.

The lower or short legs 16 of the members 12, which rest on the bottomsof their respective pockets 9, are' electrically connected withsubstantially angularly shaped stationary contacts 17, by cap screws 18,extending through the horizontal arms of the contacts 17 and through thebottom of the recesses 9,

formed by the adjacent portion of the irregularly shaped wall 11, to bethreaded in the arms 16 of the members 12.

Mounted outwardly and above the stationary contacts 17 are stationarycontacts 19, which are preferably received in apertures 20 formed in aprojecting portion 21 of the wall 11 where they are secured by screws 22extending through apertures in the portion 21 and threaded in thecontacts 19. The screws 22 also pass through members 23 received instepped portions 24 formed'in the stationary contacts 19 and extendedinwardly of the inner ends of the contacts to be electrically connectedwith the stationary contacts 17 through resistance coils 25. One end ofeach resistance coil 25 is connected with the extending member 23 by ascrew 26 or the like and the other ends are connected with the arms 16of the members 12 and thus with the stationary contacts 17, by screws27.

Cooperating with the stationary contacts 17 and 19, and disposed withinthe lower pockets or recesses 11, are movable switch members 28 and 29,respectively, which are carried by a pivotally mounted actuating member30 adapted to engage and disengage the switch members with theircontacts.

The mounting for the actuating niember 30 is substantially as shown anddescribed in a second copending application Serial No. 295,693 andincludes a supporting member 31 carrying a pivot stud 32 atV its outerend which is freely rotatable in a recess 33 formed in a boss 34extended from one endvof the actuating member. The other end' of theactuating member is provided with an inwardly extended arm 35 which ispivotally mounted between ears or lugs 36 extended from the core frameof a magnet 37, in an axial line with the pivot 32. The outer end of thearm 35 has links connected with it, which are connected with an armature38 adapted to be attracted to the magnet 37 to move the actuating member30 to engage the switch members with the stationary contacts.

The movable actuating member 30 consists of two complementary sections39 and 40 formed of insulating material and having recesses 41 and 42,respectively, in their meeting faces to provide pockets which align withthe recesses or pockets 10 formed in the mounting member, and in whichthe supporting arms 43 and 44 of the switch members 28 and 29,respectively, are positioned. The arms 44 of the switch members 29 arepreferably stamped from bendable metal and have their outer endsdirected at an angle with their major portion to which the switchmembers proper are secured, as at 45. A pivot pin 46 extends through thesides 47 of the arms A44 to be received in notches 48 formed in thewalls of the recesses 42 of the section 40 where they are secured byprojections 49 formed on the section 39 when the sections are securedtogether.

The arms 43 of the switches 28 are electrically connected with the arms44 throughv flexible members 50 andhave terminals 51 fixed to theirlower ends, with which flexible conductors 52 are electricallyconnectedto electrically connect the movable switches 28 and 29 withterminal screws 53 carried by the panel 5 and to which suitableconnections are adapted to be secured.

The arms 43 of the switch members 28 are medially apertured, as at 54,through which ins 55 having a force fit in apertures 56 ormed in thesection 39 extend. The pins 55 also extend through apertures 57 in thearms 44 of the switches 29 inwardly of their ivotal mounting 46, andinto recesses 58 iormed in the other section 40. Expensive springs 59mounted on the pins 55 are conlined between the arms 43 and 44 tomaintain them separated and engaged with suitable stops, the arms 44bein ur d about their pivot pins 46 to engage t eir owermost ends withstops comprising beads 60 extended into the recesses 42 of the section40, and the arms 43 being urged to engage similarV beads 61 extendedinto the recesses 41 of the section 39 above `and below the pins 55.

- In this manner the spring 59 yieldably maintains the switch arms 43and 44 engaged with their respective stops and permits their movementindependent of each other as the actuating member 30 is moved to engagethe switch members 28 and 29 with their respective contacts.

By constructing the movable switch unit in sections as described, themanufacture thereof is greatly facilitated as no lining up of themovable switch members is required and as it is only necessary to mountthe switch arms 43 and 44 on'the pins 55 with their springs 49properlyconfined therebetween, and then to engage the section 40 withthe section 39 which immediately secures both switch arms in their roperpositions, bolts 62 being extended t rough the assembled sections 39 and40 to secure the same together.

As is more specifically defined in the first mentioned c opendingapplication, above referred to, ,energization of the magnet 37 moves theactuating member 30 to first engage its contacts 29 with the stationarycontacts 19 to connect the load, which may be a motor or the like, withthe line conductors 15 through the reslstance elements 25. Furtherclosing movement of the actuating member shunts the resistance coils 25out of the circuit and connects the load directly across the line by theengagement of the switch members 28 with their respective contacts 17.

As the switch members 29 are engaged with their contacts 19 and theactuating member continues its closing movement, the arms 44 pivot abouttheir pins 46 moving their inner ends toward the arms 43 and compressthesprings 59. This added pressure msures a perfect contact between theswitch members 29 and the contacts 19, and as the switch members 28 areengaged with their respective contacts 17, the springs 59 are furthercompressed by the rocking of the arms 43 about the lowermost projections61. In opening, the switch members 29' are first disengaged from theirrespective contacts and the current to the load then flows through theresistance coils 25 before the filial opening of the switch so thatexcessive arcing is prevented.

A cover or hood 63 pivoted to the partii tions 8, as at 64, closes thepockets or recesses 10 and thus totally encloses both the stationarycontacts and theV movable switch members to insure maximum protectionagainst arcing and to reduce the possibility of creepage. The cover orhood is formed with grooves 64 in which the edges of the artitions 8 arereceived to provide a tight t therebetween, and the top faces of thesections 39 and 40, which together comprise the member 30, are grooved,as at 66, in alignment with the partitions 8 to likewise provide a tightfit therebetween so that when the switch is closed the recesses orpockets 10 form unbroken continuations of the pockets defined by therecesses 41 and 42 of the actuating member sections.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art to which an invention of the character described appertains,that I rovide a novel construction for the movab e switch unit ofdevices of the character described which simplifies the manufacture andespecially the assembly of such devices and in which the necessity ofcostly lining up of the switch members is obviated by the spring whichyieldably maintains the switch members in a predetermined position.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a switch of the characterdescribed, a member having a pocket, switch members, means movablymounting the switch members in the pocket, and common means yieldablyurging the switch members to a predetermined position.

2. In a. switch of the character described, a member having a pocket,switch members, means mounting the switch members in the pocket wherebythey are independently movable to different positions, and common meansyieldably maintaining the switch members in predetermined positions.

3. In a switch of the character described, a member comprisingcomplementary sections having their adjacent faces recessed to provide apocket, switch members independently movably mounted in the pocket,means for securing the member sections together, and

means whereby the securing of the sections together maintains the switchmembers against detachment.

4. In a device of the character described, a member having a. pocket,switch members having a part disposed within the pocket, means pivotallymounting one switch member within the pocket, a pin carried by the Iirstmentioned member andrextending through the switch members to maintainthe switch member, not pivotally mounted, against detachment within thepocket, and spring means mountedon the pin between the switch membersfor yieldably holding the switch members in a predetermined position.

5. In a devicel of the character described, a movably mounted memberhaving a pocket, a pair of switch members carried by the member andhaving a portion disposed within the pocket, means pivotally mountingone switch member, a pin carried by the movably mounted member andextending through both switch members, spring means mounted on the pinand confined between the switch members for yieldably maintaining themin a predeter mined position, and stop means formed on the movablymounted member and against which the second mentioned switch member isurged by the spring means. y

6. In a device of the character described, an actuating membercomprising two complementary sections having their adjacent facesrecessed to provide a pocket, one of the sections having notches in thewalls of its Arecess, a switch member, a pivot pin carried by the switchmember adapted to be received in the said notches to pivotally mount theswitch member with a portion thereof dis posed within the pocket, andsaid pivot pin being secured in the notch by the other of the actuatingmember sections.

7 In a switch device of the character described, a supporting memberhaving spaced pockets, stationary contacts mounted in said pockets,switch members engageable with the stationary contacts, a movable membercarrying said switch members for movement to and from engagement withthe contacts and having pockets, means for mounting the movable memberwhereby its pockets align with those of the supporting member, and meansindependently movably mounting the switch members in the movable memberpockets whereby one switch member of each pocket is engaged with itsrespective contact prior to the engagement of the other switch memberwith its respective Contact.

8. In a device of the character described, an actuating membercomprising com lementary sections having their adjacent aces recessed toprovide a pocket when engaged with each other, a pair of switch memberscarried by the actuating member and having a portion disposed within thepocket, means pivotally mounting one switch member in the rece of oneactuating member section, a stop carried by said section, spaced stopmembers carried by the other section, a pin carried by one section andpassino' through the pivoted switch member at a point between its ivotalmounting and its stop member and t rough the other switch member at apoint between its stop members, and spring means mounted on the pin andconfined between the switch members whereby the switch members areyieldably urged to engagement with their respective stop members andpermitted Amovey ment independent of each other.

9. In a switch device of the character described, a mounting memberhaving spaced walls defining pockets, contacts mounted in said pockets,switch members engageable with the contacts, an actuating membercarrying said switch members and movable to engage and .disengage theswitch members with the contacts, said actuating member having pocketsin which a portion of the switch members is disposed, and a hood membercarried by the mounting member and substantially closing the mountingmember pockets whereby the contacts and switch members are entirely-enclosed and separated vfrom each other.

gagement of the second switch member with its contact increases saidpressure.

13. In a switch device of the character described, stationar contacts,movable switch members engagea le with the contacts, means whereby oneswitch member engages its contact before the other, means yieldablymaintainin the switch lmembers separated and provi lng contact pressureas the first switch member engages its contact, and means whereby saidressure is increased upon engagement of t e second switch member with1ts stationary contact.

14. In a switch device of the character described, stationary contacts,movable switch members engageable with the contacts, means whereb oneswitch member engages its contact be ore the other, and common means forapplying contact pressure to both switch mem ers upon engagement withtheir stationary contacts, said with the engagement o member with itscontact.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

GUSTAV O. WILMS.

Pressure increasing the second switc l0. In a switch of the characterdescribed,

movable switch members, a member carrying the switch members, meanspivotally mounting one of said switch members from the member, arodextending through the switch members and carried by the member, therod securing the second switch member against detachment from themember, and a spring confined between the switch members normallymaintaining them in spaced relation alfld permitting independentmovement thereo 11. In a switch of the character described, stationarycontacts offset with respect to each other, movable switch membersadapted to be engaged with the stationary contacts, a

' engageable with the stationary contacts,

means whereby one switch member engages its contact before the other,means for applying pressure onto the first engaged switch member uponengagement with its stationary contact to insure a good electricalconnection therebetween, and means whereby the en-

